UAB to restore dropped football program

File - In this Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, file photo, UAB running back Jordan Howard (7) scores a touchdown against Marshall during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, in Birmingham, Ala. UAB president Ray Watts is bringing the football program back. He told The Associated Press that he decided on Monday, June 1, 2015 to reverse the earlier decision after meetings with UAB supporters continued through the weekend. He says donors have pledged to make up the estimated $17.2 million deficit over the next five years if football is restored. (AP Photo/John Amis, file)(Photo: John Amis, AP)

BIRMINGHAM — UAB President Ray Watts said Monday he is bringing the football program back as early as 2016, reversing a decision to shut it down because it was too expensive.

Watts cited renewed financial commitment from supporters, students and the city as reasons for the change of heart.

He said donors have pledged to make up the projected $17.2 million deficit over the next five years if football is restored,. Watts told The Associated Press he decided on Monday morning to reverse the earlier decision after meetings with UAB supporters continued through the weekend.

"The biggest single difference is that we now have tangible commitment for additional support that we never had before," Watts said at a news conference.

In addition to reinstating football, Watts said Monday that he was also bringing back bowling and rifle. The study commissioned by the university was based on the programs being brought back in 2016. However, new athletic director Mark Ingram stopped short of guaranteeing 2016, saying only that the goal is to bring football back as soon as possible.

Watts cut the programs last December after UAB commissioned a report saying it would cost $49 million over five years to field a competitive football program, generating both a groundswell of criticism for the decision and a rallying of financial support for the Blazers program.

The president said UAB has dropped an indoor practice facility from the equation since the initial report, and has raised about 10 percent of the estimated $12.5 million to $14.5 million needed for a turf practice field and new fieldhouse.

The December decision left players looking for teams and stirred fans, student and faculty groups to issue no-confidence votes against Watts.

"This was a very difficult decision," he said. "It broke our hearts to make that decision, and we are sorry for any consequences of that. But we are excited today that our community and supporters have come together. Had we not made that decision, which was based on sound information, that we wouldn't be where we are today. We have never seen this level of support. It has been a painful process at times but it has been a process that has brought us to a new day."

UAB commissioned College Sports Solutions to review the initial report by CarrSports Consulting. The numbers were similar minus the indoor facility. Watts also said UAB's cost of attendance could be about half the initial projected $5,000 per athlete, based on other Conference USA schools. The first season's College Football Playoff payout also was higher than UAB had projected.

Watts said that the initial projections "showed there was no way for us to cover that unless we took away from education and research and health care."

Watts said UAB sent documents to C-USA and NCAA notifying them of his decision, but he makes it clear UAB plans to remain in the league and play at the FBS level.

Without football, UAB would have likely not have remained in C-USA, which has a bylaw requiring members to field football programs.

C-USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky said members had not wanted to change the rule because "football is something that is critical to our long-term success and part of our core as a conference."

"It didn't really come as a great surprise, but we're very pleased with the decision to bring back football," Banowsky told The AP. "As a conference, we're committed to football so we welcome the good news that UAB football has been given another chance."

UAB will cap its subsidizing of athletics to $14.49 million for each of the next five years, about $200,000 less than the university paid in 2014.

The City of Birmingham and UAB's National Alumni Society have each pledged contributions to athletics while student government leaders will raise student fees. Those total $5.3 million with the balance of money coming from private donors.

One thing that's not on the table: UAB building an on-campus stadium to replace aging Legion Field. Watts said that's up to the city and community to fund.

"We will be happy to play in any new, modern facility that the city might choose to build," he said. "We leave the specific type of facility and the exact location up to the mayor and city leaders and community leaders."

Now comes a huge rebuilding process on the field.

Many of the players have moved onto other programs, leaving UAB and former Prattville High coach Bill Clark and his staff to find recruits for 2016. Ingram said bringing football back "will bring a lot of renewed excitement around this program, that's from top to bottom."

Clark issued a statement saying it was a relief that UAB football was being resurrected.

"This is a critical first step toward UAB football's new path," Clark said. "It takes tremendous commitment and support to run a successful football program. We have a lot of work to do but we start anew today!"